California Fever

Flickr

I've deleted the Flickr badge for Taylor Parker Fan Club, since earlier this week I helped her family add the badge to Taylor's blog.  So you can still reach her Flickr group pool via her blog, and THANK YOU to everyone for posting photos!  Keep 'em coming!  (If you feel like it.)  ;) 

Tonya just recently set up a Flickr account, and as a long-time reader, let me tell you:  if you've never seen Tonya's photos, you're in for a treat!  I love the badge she's using and went and made myself one at bighugelabs.  So I've put my own Flickr badge back in the right sidebar.  I just upgraded to a Pro Flickr account last month after years of free use.  I'd sometimes go months without remembering I even HAD a Flickr account, but often became frustrated by the limits of the free account.  Now I can upload to my heart's content!  (Now if I can just get a decent camera...)  ;)  Only thing is, I just realized looking at that new badge that all these years I've forgotten to add all of you as contacts!  That'll be my next project.  :)  I'm falling in love with Flickr all over again.

baby formula

Following up on the "Cost of Ads" post below, I just read Jory's post at BlogHer entitled "What does it mean, to 'sell out?'" 

"...a huge topic seems to be the growing commercialism (or recognition, depending on how you view it) of the event by mainstream advertisers."

I've read plenty of posts over the last few days that grumbled about the advertiser presence at BlogHer 06.  But as offputting as that might have been for some (or for many, I don't know), the bigger issue is the growing commercialism of blogs themselves.

I personally don't know any blogger who resents any female blogger who has found a way to get paid from blogging.  But I do hear a growing dissatisfaction about the fact that (on the surface at least) there's mainly only ONE kind of (personal) blogger getting paid--the mommyblogger.

Near the end of her post, Jory uses a music analogy:

"I think about the musicians/directors/actors who wow the public with their originality and then have sophomore slumps because they glommed onto the first major deal offered. On the other hand, I think of the legends who seemed to have dumbed it down or gone commercial, gone "soft rock" on us, and I'm not offended. With age comes change; some of us mellow, some of us move to the fringes, that doesn't mean we don't want to be paid to do what we love."

The music business is a good analogy for what I see happening in the blogosphere, but I'm looking at it from another angle.

A few months ago, I was sitting in a club and the man at the next table (also sitting alone) turned to me and said, "This has to be the best music happening in San Francisco right now."  And then he glanced around at the near empty club and added, "And nobody even knows it's happening."  That's what I see happening in the blogosphere.  There are amazing blog writers out there--many of whom would never even think to label themselves as writers--but they don't fit into the mold that advertisers have glommed on to at the moment.  They're not mommybloggers.  Uniqueness doesn't sell in our culture--sameness does.  Now before you go getting your panties all in a twist thinking that I'm saying mommybloggers aren't unique, that's not what I'm saying.  What I'm saying is that what sells in America is formula. If one mommyblogger can generate big traffic, then 50 mommybloggers should be able to generate 50 times the traffic, right?  That's how advertisers think.  Don't believe me?  Try writing a hit song that doesn't follow a fairly standard formula.  Try getting a film produced in Hollywood that's completely and utterly unique.  Yes, it happens, but the odds are not in your favor. 

Jory's music analogy speaks to the artists who move away from artistic freedom to adapt to commerciability.  That happens in every medium.  The 'if I can be like Dooce then maybe I'll get paid like her, too' thing.  But it happens from the advertiser end, as well.  The 'let's go find the next Dooce' thing.  So what we end up with is a lot of Dooce-like product.  And I'm not knocking Dooce.  Heather's a good writer, and I read her.  And I'm not making a sweeping generalization that every mommyblogger secretly wants to be Dooce (although I think some of them do).  I'm simply pointing out that by advertisers focusing primarily on one contingent (moms) they're excluding a lot of potentially excellent product.  Advertisers don't go looking for unique product--they look for what they already know will sell.  That's why Hollywood keeps doing remakes. 

It seems to me that the grumblings I'm hearing in the blogosphere over advertising and advertisers are indicative of the inevitable pain that comes with a transition to the mainstream.  And maybe part of the emotion behind some of the grumblings is because some of us liked it better when blogging was still a little more out of the public eye. 

Frankly, I think we've only seen the tip of the mommyblogging iceberg that advertisers plan to tap into.  I think if you don't fit into the formula advertisers are seeking right now, you might not want to wait for that knock at the door--you might have to start brainstorming income-generating ideas on your own.  And there's room for all of us in the blogosphere.  Some of us like turning on our radios and hearing an Ashlee Simpson song being played in heavy rotation on a Clear Channel-controlled station.  And some of us admire the force of an Ani DiFranco who made her name by booking her own shows in places like middle school auditoriums (as she did in my hometown).  Ashlee makes a ton more money than Ani...but it doesn't necessarily mean she's putting out better product.

The Cost of Ads

If you have any interest in (using the parlance of our medium), monetizing your blog, you might want to read Justin Berton's article in the Business section of today's San Francisco Chronicle.  The reporter attended BlogHer 06 this weekend and interviewed a few bloggers on their thoughts about adding ads to their blogs. In addition, he addressed the larger picture of selling bloggers to advertisers.  Some quotes:

"If the word 'bloggers' conjures a romantic image--of fiercely independent writers, untouched by corporate influence--this may be the convention where that image begins to die."

"This year, BlogHer...has developed the BlogHer Ad Network to enable corporations and online writers form business relationships."

"But now, through niche ad networks like BlogHer, a company can purchase a 'parenting bundle' and get placement on three dozen blogs written by mothers."

Have you ever looked at the page promoting the BlogHer Ad Network?  Wanna see the "parenting bundle" they're pitching?  Take a look.  (I read several blogs on that list.  I also read plenty of "mommybloggers" who I think are more entertaining than some of the ones BlogHer is pitching.)

I believe I've read on Dooce's blog that she doesn't edit her posts to accommodate advertisers--and who knows what her contract with advertisers says?  But check out another quote from the Chronicle article:

"At the convention, (BlogHer) co-founder Stone, a former editor-in-chief of women.com, reminded potential writers they'd need to sign an editorial standards contract if they wanted to join the ad network."

Do you dream of generating income through your blog?  Would you be willing to place ads on your blog?  Do you read blogs that feature ads?  Have you ever clicked on a blog ad?  Are there editorial compromises you'd be willing to make to form a relationship with advertisers?  Are there products you wouldn't feel comfortable advertising?  How do you feel about this hot-button issue?!

hchamp

Donna just knocked me out with her recap of Heather Champ's digital photography session at BlogHer today.  So informative!  I've been a Heather Champ fan for years, before I even knew what a blog was.  I remember reading an article about her and the Mirror Project* in SELF magazine years ago.  I thought she was too cool for school.  Heather has a link on her blog to the WIRED article entitled "How To: Take Great Photos."  I miss having a digital camera handy--I'll be glad when we get a new one.  (I loved our Canon...even if I did have to beat it up to make it work.)

(*I'd link to the Mirror Project site, but as Heather posted on her blog yesterday, it's currently off-line.)

And they're off...

Here's the article on BlogHer in today's edition of the San Jose Mercury News.  (Nice picture of Jory...I love Jory and her mom...Hi, Joy!)  As some of you may (and many of you may not) know, the Grand Prix is also taking place in San Jose this weekend (as mentioned in the article).  One thing that really turned me off from this piece though were these lines:  "Tempers may flare. Things may get said. Feelings may get hurt..." What the fuck?  And a woman wrote the article.  Would the writer have said that if it was a conference comprised mainly of men?  I think not.

FilmLoop

Just because I'm not at BlogHer doesn't mean I can't tap into the info being put out there.  Like FilmLoop.  Read about it on Karl's blog--he's liveblogging the event and it was apparently mentioned in the "Primp Your Blog" panel.

FilmLoop is a free software download.  Very easy to use--just drag photos into it to create a loop.  I created this one with photos from our trip to Oregon over the 4th.  Should have come up with a better name for it...but it didn't occur to me to post it here until after I'd already created it.  :)

It's yet another social networking tool--you can share loops and check out others', too.

stringing along

I'm on vacation (and frankly, a bit bored) so thought I'd take a look at the searches that have shown up in my stats recently and share some of them with you...

* climbing trees naked  (I've been known to do a few things outside naked, but that was never one of them.)

* banana plantation  (Never lived on one, but we did have banana trees in the yard at one of our island houses.)

* Friday cause fashion for office  

* Maya Angelou idealist quotes

* treasure maps

* song California Dreams  (I think you mean "California Dreamin'.")

* quadriplegic video clip  (Wha...?!)

* T-shirt surgery (There were at least half a dozen searches for this--who knew it was so popular?  Here's the link from that post again.)

* man funky fashion

* Artist's Way "I am not an artist."  (Don't remind me, I'm feeling completely uncreative right now as it is.)

* funky fashion show

* funky fashion custom made  (Enough with the funky fashion...)

* fever Rocklin  (I've been to Rocklin.  Trust me, your temperature will not rise.)

* Las Vegas used bookstores  (Glad I could be of assistance.)

* John Belushi imitates Joe Cocker video clips  (No, Taylor Hicks does.)

* hamburger joint in Northern California looks like a gas station  (Hey, if you find it, tell ME where it is!)

* Lake Folson Peninsula campground  (Sigh.  That was last summer...won't have a chance to camp there this summer.)

* Trader Horn  (Hey!  Someone's searching for our favorite show on the radio station in my hometown!  It's like Craigslist on the radio...except they've been doing it since the 60's.) 

* straw purses with horse bits on them

* Hershey's Easter eggs candy  (For that craving three months later that just won't go away...)

* how to bring the angel back in the family as Dixon died in family  (Oooh, that sounds sad.)

* flat boots Ciara was wearing in 1,2 step  (The hazards of having a niece with the same name as a hot singing star.)

And if you didn't see the post about April Winchell, please read the next post.  And if you like her story (as I did), please vote for her in the memoirs contest (link below).

mining the archives

I can't remember if I've ever done one of these posts, but I always enjoy reading them so I'm going to make this my entry for this week's Favorite Things Saturday. It's where the blog owner goes into her stats to see what web surfers are searching for to get them to their site.  Here's a partial list of some recent searches that have landed people on my blog [my comments in brackets]:

• aruba accident asleep car January 2005 [I didn't hear about that one and I lived in the tropics then.]
• california wine history [Surely they were sorely disappointed since all we do in wine country is enjoy the scenery.]
• "the artist's way" "may sarton" blog
• golf shaft refield [I have no idea what refield means.]
• poetry Godchild
• katrina island california
• california fever movie [It was only after naming this blog that I thought to Google the name...and discovered that there's a...you know...one of THOSE kinds of movies with this name.]
• 24 hour laundromat davis california [I feel your pain.]
• IS THERE ANY CELEBS THAT JUST HAD A BABY [Is there a way you could study grammar as urgently as you feel the desire to read about Sean Preston?]
• california waves, December 2005 [Looking for residual effect of the Asian tsunami, perhaps?]
• spangalang band
• seinfeld "flipped the switch" [He did?  Which episode?]
• california [That oughta narrow down your Google search...]
• Elliot Yamin's Address [Let's hope she's not a stalker.]
• Blue Bitch Stone
• pictures of old treasure maps
• "carquinez bridge" "named after"
• map of california lesson plan
• swirly Pam Houston [Do they know each other?]
• treasure maps
• map big dipper summer st. thomas [One of my absolute FAVORITE things to do down there was to step out onto the balcony at night and look up at the millions of stars.  The Big Dipper would look so close and huge, you'd feel like you could reach out and grab it.]
• soul patrol t-shirt [AAAAAACK!  Taylor Hicks fans, stay away!!]
• RUM SHACK [NEED.ONE.NOW.]
• lesson plan for summer school kindergarten [This is what's drawing these lesson plan searches.]
• group blogging with artists [Always a fabulous idea...]
• wings by Susan Stewart
• rebel corners california map [Honey, if there's a place here with that name, I'm goin' there!]

And my favorite:

• for others 3 wishes from God [What I wish for all of you today...]

Squidoo redux

If you were interested in Squidoo after reading my post about it below, you might enjoy this article from the NY Times site this week (via Seth Godin's blog).

Squidoo

Late last night, while waiting for Jeffrey to get home from his (second, back-to-back) gig, I started surfing around in Squidoo.  It had been months since I'd spent any time there.  Those of you who read here regularly know that I have a lens there (The Church of the Divine Spark...I haven't added any new content in months).  I was looking for lenses on a specific topic--not for myself, but for someone else.  No, she hadn't asked me to--I was just curious. 

If you're not familiar with Squidoo, here are a few things you might like to know (and truly, what I know about it would fit in a thimble).  It's free and easy to use.  It was created by Seth Godin.  (And if you don't read Seth's blog, you might want to add it to your Bloglines, if only to skim it occasionally--never know what you'll find.)  The whole idea is to take something you're knowledgeable or passionate about and create a lens (site) about it.  Anyone can be an 'expert' in Squidoo--that's the beauty of it!

Anyhoo...  After searching around for info for my pal, for some inexplicable reason, I typed "performance art" in the Search box.  And lo and behold an unclaimed performance art lens came up.  When they set up Squidoo, they included a bunch of Up For Grabs (UFG) pre-built lenses that already have a bunch of pre-loaded links.  So you can guess what I did, right?  I claimed it, of course!  Squidoo users are allowed to have up to 10 UFG lenses in their account, but if you don't personalize the claimed lens within 14 days, it's put back up for grabs.  I added a goofy photo and one link to personalize it.  Now I get to spend some time at some point going through all of those pre-loaded links to see which ones I want to keep and which to discard.  Here it is--performance art on Squidoo.

I kept surfing around.  I checked out a few music lenses, and accidentally discovered that there was a funk one up for grabs.  Well, I had Jeffrey claim that sucker the minute he walked in the door!  (Poor guy, he could barely keep his eyes open and I had him signing up for some new online gizmo while I tried to explain lenses to him.)  But it was too good to pass up!  He was in a funk band for seven years, so the man knows his funk (and can play the hell out of it).  Although that band never became famous, they were discovered by a very famous producer who signed them to a major label.  They recorded one album, while staying at the producer's Malibu estate.  This crappily-scanned photo was taken there.  I present to you:  funk on Squidoo.  I had him add a photo and one line in the bio to personalize it.  But in spite of his fatigue, we did surf around a bit in the pre-loaded links to check a few of them out.  Very cool!

Jory has two Squidoo lenses:  Living without a Net (about working freelance) and The Relationship Chronicles.  (Although I didn't see them linked on her blog.  I can find them easily because I have them in my del.idio.us.)

This morning I headed back to Squidoo for more surfing.  There are so many fun lenses!  Here's just a sampling:

Art for All of Us - Check out their website--link on the lens.  Offering reasonably priced prints the earlier in the edition you buy.

Learn to Podcast

Blogging Starter Checklist

Vieques, Puerto Rico - I could kick myself.  We lived 40 miles from Vieques for five years (we could see it on clear days from our island!) and we never got there.  (It was tough to get anywhere with J. working two jobs and having so little time off.)  I've heard nothing but raves about it.  Supposed to still be fairly undeveloped and unspoiled.

Spiritual Age Leadership

Bookmark These

East African Safaris - Although I have issues with the whole idea of safaris, this was created by someone who sounds like she knows what she's talking about.

Fondue

How to Find Your Best Job EVER! - This guy's job hunting himself, but there seem to be some good tips here.

Tea Junkie

Introduction to Web 2.0

Those are just a handful of the literally hundreds of thousands of lenses on Squidoo.  (A person could lose days surfing around in there.)  Granted, there are a lot of crappy or silly ones, and some have been created just to claim a name (no content there).  But there's some good stuff on Squidoo.

People use them for all sorts of things.  Sometimes they're not about a particular topic or passion--sometimes they're about an upcoming event.  Do bloggers in your blogging circle have Squidoo lenses?  If so, I'd love to know what they are.

If you had a couple of free hours today to create a lens (stop laughing), what would it be about?